Feb 13, 2007

THE LIST
Posted by: Admin

The List

I had to ask myself after nine years, “Why am I still alone?” It wasn’t as though I was sitting back in my lazy chair, day dreaming like some fanciful young school girl. At the ripe age of 52, being well passed what society considers the prime age for a woman to find a mate. Read articles after articles about how to find a mate. What men look for in a woman, and what women look for in a man, and knowing all I knew about men. Finding myself still alone after all this time I started reflecting on the possible causes. After bolstering my courage enough just to look into a mirror, I came to the conclusion that any man should be proud to have me. Of course to reach this conclusion and to be fair to myself I did have to take into consideration my age, weight, and my house, my car, my job, and all the goodies I owned. Just to be fair of course. Still after analyzing everything I was still alone. Why? I came to the conclusion that I must be doing something wrong. I had made my list of requirements for a mate, and refused to budge for nine years. I would not be denied all I wanted. Lying in bed that cold winter night listening to the wind hollowing outside my bedroom window, sounding like a lost soul itself I thought of my list, and all my wants. Out of the blue a few things came to mind. Should it really be about what a woman wants? Or should it be about what men and women want? Shouldn’t the quest be for both man and woman? Shouldn’t I first look at myself? I had made my list of “wants” and then sat back waiting for that special man to come into my life and fulfill all my need and fantasy. Did I ever really think about what makes a good relationship, or for that matter does anyone? What are the basics needed in making a good and lasting relationship with anyone - man or woman? Have you seen anyone when asked what he or she wants in a relationship answer with what they are willing to give first?

Years ago I had a discussion with my Father about a scripture in the Bible. I have always considered my dad as the one and only true source to any question or problem I might have, knowing he could and would set me right. Our discussion was about a young man the Lord told to sell all he owned and to follow him. The young man went away sad, because he was very rich. He was not willing to give up all he had. In our discussion I took the side of the young man in telling my father that that was the old days and we no longer had to do that. After all I argued if we all gave up everything we owned and followed the Lord what would we have then? Who would do all the work and take care of everything? My Fathers reply was something that I will never forget and have tried to base my life on. He simply said in a lazy soft southern drawl. “I Guess We Would Have Heaven on Earth.”

In studying the bible the main topic is about “LOVE” and showing “LOVE.” Any relationship is about “LOVE”. Not what you want or need, but what both people want and need. It calls for a person to be able to both give love and know how to receive love.

Showing love requires us to take our minds off of ourselves and place it on someone else. It requires us to learn how to forgive others, to be patient, kind, caring, and giving. The lists goes on and on, but look how it is not a list that we consider when we are making our list of wants. Why is that?

It doesn’t matter if one is Christian or Non-Christian love is still the same. Not only do we need to give love, but we also need to be able to receive love. Many people don’t know how to receive love and that makes an unhappy relationship as well. It’s really easy to learn how to receive love. Just simply see ourselves through the eyes of the one’s that give love to us, and learn how to forgive ourselves as they forgive us.

Give to others and we will receive back. Try it and see if it doesn’t work. Hug a friend and they will hug you back, Kiss a lover and they will kiss you back. Reach out and give a helping hand to a stranger and watch as someone gives you a helping hand when you need it. If we give love we receive love. If we give hate we receive hate.

If we ask for their list of needs before we give them our list of needs we will more than likely receive everything we need if not more than we ever dreamed of or hoped for. To truly love we must be willing to give up all we have. To gain all we ever wanted. It’s simple Give and Take. If all we want is our list of what someone else must be or have we are not looking for love we’re looking for things; or more stuff to place with our stuff.

When are we ever going to stop looking at love as a Christmas stocking stuffed with all kinds of goodies? Love is not a thing and is more than just a feeling. It is building a bond; joining two spirits together as one and creating a relationship based on giving of one’s self.

If the young man had given all he owned, what do you think he would have received in return? If we gave all we have in a relationship what do you think we would receive in return? If we get hurt in a relationship will we lose ourselves or will we grow stronger from the lose. Is it better to love and lose or is it better to never have loved?

We guard our properties way too much and because of that so many people never allow their self to love. They are not willing to suffer loses any more than the young man in the Bible was. Is there anything we can learn from the young man? Yes! There is. If we hold even just a little back we miss out on all we could and should have had in our relationships. There are no sureties in this world and I don’t think we will ever find love as we are meant to as long as we place material things before others. It’s not bad to have a list, but is the list a list of things, like fancy luxury cars, a mansion on a hillside, a boat the size of a battleship, enough money to buy Donald Trump’s palace five times over and what about looks? Does the man have to be as tall as a basketball player with eyes the color of the sky, and built like Mr. Universe. Let’s not forget about all the lovely ladies. What’s required of them? Can she work a full time job and still be home in enough time to cook your meal, wash your socks, build a fire, and stay up late enough to put the dog out. Does she really have to be between 5’2”and 5’4” weight no more than a hundred and two pounds with blonde hair and big blue eyes, and built like a brick outhouse? Got the picture yet?

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Feb 01, 2007

NOT ABOUT WINNING
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NOT ABOUT WINNING

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.”

Proverbs 23: 7

King James Version

I just read a true story about a young man who was never able to make a basket when their team played. One day during a game, all of the players on both teams kept giving him the basketball so that he would have a chance to make a basket. The scorekeepers and everyone in the audience was cheering him on. He finally made a basket and everyone rejoiced with him. His team lost but I know that Jesus watched with tears of joy and happiness in His heart to see the love that was given to this dear young man.

O’ dear friends, it’s not about winning in this life or how much money we can make. It’s not even about being recognized for our accomplishments; it is all about loving Jesus and others. Even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written if everything that Jesus has done was recorded. What is recorded is how much He Loves us and how precious we are to Him. The love that we show to others is what Jesus is recording and what touches His heart.

I have received countless phone calls, emails and regular mail from people who have asked me to publish the writings that Jesus inspires me to write. I receive emails almost every month from pastors and missionaries on the mission field who ask me to mail my book to them. I have had to tell all of them that these writings will never be sold as they are a free gift from the heart of Jesus. If God moves and I come into a lot of money, then I will have the writings printed and bound into a book and give the books away.

It is not important to me that people know that I wrote these writings; what is important to me is that they know how much Jesus Loves them and how much I love Jesus. Without Jesus, life doesn’t make any sense and is meaningless. We can have all the money, possessions and fame in the world but if we don’t have Jesus in our hearts and if we aren’t telling others how great Jesus is, then all of that is in vain and stinks in the nostrils of Jesus. The only thing that touches Jesus is the condition of our hearts. This is what life is all about; the condition of our hearts before a Holy God. What does God see when He looks in your heart? Does He see love for others or does He see selfishness and greed?

Joanne Lowe

January 11, 2007

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HE SEES YOUR TEARS
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HE SEES YOUR TEARS

“Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.”

Psalm 62: 8

King James Version

I received twenty one emails today from people who are hurting and desperately need to know someone cares. O’ my friends, Jesus cares, He sees the tears in your heart that nobody else can see. This verse says to pour out your heart before Him. He already knows the pain and heartache you have, but He wants you to come to Him like a child would go to their parents.

If there was ever a time that we need to be loving each other with the Love of Jesus and encouraging one another, it is now. So many broken hearts and broken homes! It is not the will of God for us to be unhappy. Jesus died so that we would have a victorious new life in Him.

Climb up on the loving lap of Jesus and let Him put His Arms of Compassion around you. Only Jesus can kiss away the tears in your heart. Your loved ones can hug you and kiss the tears on your face, but only Jesus can heal the hurt in your heart.

My heart wept again and again as I read the emails that were sent to me today. I so long to be able to put my arms around you and give you a hug, but since I can’t, allow Jesus to hug you. His hugs are so precious. He hugs me every night when I go to bed and holds me in His Loving Arms all night long. There is no one like Jesus. There is no Friend like Jesus. No one understands like Jesus. Without Him, life doesn’t make sense.

If you don’t know this Beautiful Jesus, I urge you to invite the Christ of Calvary into your heart right now. Don’t wait another minute because you may not have another minute.

Joanne Lowe

April 20, 2006

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THE CHRIST OF CALVARY
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THE CHRIST OF CALVARY

“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.”

Luke 23: 33

King James Version

Who is this Christ of Calvary? He is the Saviour of the world who shed His precious atoning blood for us that we might have the forgiveness of our sins and be assured of a home in Heaven with Him for all eternity. There was no room for Him when He was born, and even today in many people’s hearts and lives, there is still no room for Him.

Our merciful and loving Saviour endured ridicule, criticism, scorn, heartache and abuse when He was here on earth. May God forgive us, even now He is enduring these things because of the way we treat Him. We tell Him that we trust Him to take care of us when we pray, but often as soon as we have prayed, we start worrying about the very thing we just gave to Him.

Why is it that we think that we are more powerful than Jesus? We can do nothing in our own strength. We are powerless against the attacks of the world and satan. If we could defeat satan on our own, Jesus would not have had to suffer such a horrible, agonizing death for us. Thank God for the mercy and protection of the Christ of Calvary.

Do you know this Christ of Calvary? Have you made a heart commitment to Him? If you have just acknowledged Him with your intellect and your words, you are lost in the darkness of sin. There must be a time in your life when you invite the Christ of Calvary into your heart to be your Saviour. All of us need forgiveness for our sins and it is through His precious blood that was shed for us at Calvary that we have this forgiveness.

Joanne Lowe

July 29, 2006

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